Envelop



(No Model.)

WITNESSES:

No. 592,444. Patented Oct. 26,1897.

FIG. 3. FIG. 1

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A ATTY.

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N rrnn STATES HENRY J. RATHJEN, JR., OF OTTER CREEK, \VISCONSIN.

ENVELO P.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 592,444, dated October 26, 1897. Application filed March 27,1897. Serial No. 629,483. (No model.)

T0 to whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY J. RATHJEN, J11, a citizen of the United States, residing at Otter Creek, in the county of Eau Claire and State of Visconsin, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Envelops, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to envelops, and particularly to means for preventing or indicating the opening of an envelop after it has been once sealed. Its objects are, first, to

provide an envelop which when steamed or V heated for the purpose of unsealing same will plainly show a mark indicating that same has been tampered with; second, to provide an envelop of such construction that the postagestamp serves as a safety-seal, and, third, to provide such construction that the body of the envelop cannot be opened without breaking or disengaging several sealed parts independent of the above means. 1 attain these objects by the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows the inner face of a blank for an envelop constructed according to my invention opened flat. Figs. 2 to 5, inclusive, show the different stages of folding the blank, Fig. 4 being a perspective view of the envelop when prepared for receiving the matter to be sealed therein and Fig. 5 a view of the envelop when completely sealed.

The form of envelop shown in the drawings is made of a single piece of paper, consisting of the back 1, the flaps 2 3 and 4 4, and the laps 3 on the flaps 3. The laps 3 are separated from the flaps 2 and 4 by the cuts 7. The blank is scored or creased at the places indicated by the lines 8. The flap 4 4' is also divided by a score or crease 6 and has the corner cut away at 5. The parts marked a are gummed on the surface shown in Fig. 2, one of the laps 3 being gummed on the part which will overlap the flap 3, as indicated in Fig. 3. Before the parts are gummed the word Opened or any suitable mark or design is traced, preferably on the inner face of parts of the envelop, Fig. l, with wax, ceresin, cerin, or some other substance which when heated, steamed, or dampened will be absorbed by the material of the envelop or will change color, so as to show, preferably on the outside of the envelop, that an attempt has been made to open same after sealing. I find that cerin when heated will be absorbed by the material of the envelop and will plainly show through same, while it will not be visible before heating. It will be seen that many other substances will serve the same purpose, the main office being to bring out on the envelop a visible sign which will plainly indicate an attempt to unseal the envelop. It is not essential that this be under the gummod part, although I prefer to put it 011 that part of the envelop. It may be put on the back 1 in the Vicinity of the place where the gummed parts will be when the envelop is sealed. \Vhen the blank is prepared as shown in Fig. 2, one of the flaps 3 is folded over and pasted to the back or body 1 of the envelop along the lower lap 3. The other flap 3 is then pasted upon the back 1 at its lower lap 3 and upon the under flap 3, as shown in Fig. 3. The envelop is then ready for" use, being open be tween the upper edge of the back 1 and the flaps 3. The flap 4 may, however, be pasted upon the flaps 3, leaving the envelop in the form as shown in Fig. 4. After the matter to be inclosed is in the envelop the upper laps 3 are pasted upon the back 1, and the flap 2 is then pasted down upon the flaps 3. The

flap 4 is then pasted upon the flap 2 and the postage-stamp pasted over the out portion, as shown in Fig. 5. The flap 4 4 forms the face of the envelop when sealed, and the address is written on the outside of this flap.

The means used for showing that the envelop has been heated, steamed, or moistened may be applied to any envelop, and any envelop may have a portion of one of its walls cut away, so as to be sealed by the stamp, without departing from the spirit of my in- Vention.

That I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. As an article of manufacture, an envelop having a thin layer of wax or similar material deposited upon the inner surface of the envelop-blank, and adapted to be absorbed by the material of the envelop so as to leave a mark of the class desoribed,upon the envelop, after same has been heated or steamed, substantially as described.

2. As an article of manufacture, an envelop having the flaps 3 with the gummed laps 3 thereon adapted to be sealed to the body of the envelop, and upper and lower laps on the body of the envelop adapted to be sealed upon the flaps 3, one of same, forming the address- 5 ing-faoe of the envelop, being cut away at the proper place for securing a postage-stamp, and having a thin layer of wax or similar material deposited upon its inner surface, adapt-- ed to be absorbed by the material of said flap so as to leave a mark of the class described, 10 upon said flap, after same has been heated or steamed, substantially as described.

HENRY J. RATHJ EN, J R. Witnesses:

G. W. PAUL, 13. C. WERNER. 

